Ragnar Events Announces Nation’s Largest Series of Relay Races

SALT LAKE CITY, UT | February 24, 2007 - Over the last 3 years the national running community has seen the emergence of a new type of event, the overnight relay race. The overnight relay race generally cover 170 to 200 miles, involves 10 to 12 runners on a team, and require each participant to run 3 alternating legs of 3 to 8 miles over a 20-30 hour period.

At the forefront of this growth is Ragnar Events, LLC. Ragnar Events is proud to announce the Ragnar Relay series presented by NordicTrack, the nation’s largest series of overnight relay races. The series includes the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back in Utah, the Ragnar Relay Great River in Minnesota, the Ragnar Relay Del Sol in Arizona, and the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage in Washington State.

“Our goal from the beginning has been to provide participants with a premier series of unforgettable relay adventures. We knew eventually we would accomplish that goal, but we are amazed that it has happened so quickly“, says Dan Hill, Director of Race Operations for Ragnar Events.

Dan has reason to be amazed, Ragnar Events’ first race, the Wasatch Back Relay, began in June 2004. “We started the Wasatch Back Relay with a $1,000 and only attracted 260 participants”, said Hill. However, those humble beginnings were a sign of things to come. The Wasatch Back Relay quickly became the fastest growing relay in the nation. Now in its fourth year, the Wasatch Back Relay has changed its name to the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back and is on pace to be the second largest overnight relay in the nation.

On the heels of such unprecedented growth Ragnar Events has announced the launch of a premiere series of overnight relay races.

“We have taken relay racing to the next level. From live bands along the course, to flawless course logistics, to the technical running tees and custom finisher medals provided to participants, everything we do is aimed at providing participants with an unforgettable relay adventure. We thought it was time for the rest of the nation to experience an overnight relay Ragnar style”, says Tanner Bell, Director of Race Development for Ragnar Events.

As the head coach of the Brigham Young University track Team, Ed Eyestone has entered his collegiate athletes in the Wasatch Back for the last 3 years. When asked why the Ragnar Relay series has experience such amazing growth he said, “First and foremost, the fun factor and the adventure involved in this type of event. It is not the ordinary 5K or 10K you’ve done a million times. Distance running can become a selfish pursuit because you are always concerned about how fast you run, or beating your personal record. These events are unique because they because they infuse the team component and instead of running for yourself you are running for your team members.”

For more information about the Ragnar Relay series visit www.ragnarrelay.com or call the Ragnar Relay Hotline at (877) 83-RELAY.